Latest news with #DowneHouse
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-education secretary Michael Gove warns schoolchildren need more traditional classroom teaching to fend off dangers of AI 'cheating'
Former education secretary Michael Gove has said children don't need to be taught digital skills but need a proper academic education to help them combat the rise of AI. And he has argued that with 'an epidemic of cheating' triggered by AI, a handwritten essay is the surest test of ability. The Tory grandee, now Lord Gove, said he is more convinced than he ever was about the importance of a traditional education as AI tools like Chat GPT become commonplace. 'AI has created a huge potential for corruption and a huge opportunity for people to present themselves as knowledgeable when they don't actually have those skills. The way to demonstrate you have those skills is through that traditional knowledge. 'It is precisely because AI is going to change our lives so much that I believe we need to be armed with the knowledge that traditional education provides.' In his battle against what he saw as schools dumbing down, Lord Gove's tenure as Education Secretary in the coalition Cabinet from 2010 to 2014 was marked by his run-ins with education unions. Speaking to education leaders and pupils at an education conference at the Princess of Wales' former school Downe House in Newbury last week, he said children had got 'all the digital skills they could ever need'. And he told them it was 'better to live in the world of Pythagoras than Pokémon'. 'One of the in vogue buzz phrases of our era is "we want schools to teach digital skills". Nonsense! Young people today are digital natives – it's what they get outside school - arguably to excess.' Instead he said 'access to an academic education' would give children 'skills such as critical thinking, social confidence and the ability to understand what is true and false'. 'The future of education is going back to tradition. AI is already changing what is happening in education and we are already seeing its impact in higher education. 'An increasing amount of the work submitted is work that is not the product of scholarship or time spent in dusty libraries or at the thoughtful analysis of lecture notes but it's taken direct from chat GPT or other AI tools. 'There is an epidemic of cheating in higher education and the same thing could spread throughout the whole education ecosystem.' He said coursework could easily 'be downloaded or synthesised by AI' and delivering exam work through a digital platform was 'a retrograde step because those tools make it easier to cheat'. The former cabinet minister, now the editor of The Spectator magazine said the 'surest test in higher education and also in schools of what you can do and the ability to pass on to the next stage of life is actually a handwritten pencil and paper essay or an oral exam conversation'. He argued that young people needed 'the patient practice of skills and the cumulative acquisition of knowledge' to acquire the 'mastery' in a subject which would help them to use AI to their advantage. 'Who would have thought that this whole technological revolution would have reminded us that the traditional ways to teach are actually the best,' he said. Hitting out at 'the progressive educational argument' that 'because all that information is online or available online that you don't need to know as much as previous generations'. He said: 'The opposite is true – because there is so much information out there – you need to know more. You need more in order to be able to discern the bogus from the honest. 'A well-stocked mind is the best guide and the most effective guide for making your way through this forest of knowledge which is there for you.'
Sassy Mama
05-05-2025
- Sassy Mama
Students From Singapore Can Join Exclusive Summer Courses At The UK's Most Elite Boarding Schools
This summer, students aged 8 to 17 studying in Singapore can experience elite British boarding school life at Eton College, Wycombe Abbey, Downe House and other prestigious schools in the UK. Find out how BE Education is empowering students to become future leaders with this unmatched opportunity. Keen for your child to discover the beauty of elite British education? These unique two-week summer courses by BE Education offer an authentic 'micro-study abroad' experience. Your child will immerse themselves in world-renowned British education at prestigious schools known for academic excellence. They'll engage in courses designed, hosted and taught by these institutions, ensuring an academically rigorous and culturally enriching experience. Beyond exploring the school's magnificent campus, your child will get the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in British boarding life. Through expert-led classes and activities, students will learn independence and gain global connections. This is an opportunity for your child to focus on personal growth and create lasting memories in an environment that has shaped many leaders and innovators. Experience life at a top UK boarding school for two weeks Summer Programme At Eton College Eton College's summer courses allow students aged 12 to 17 to take a deep dive into the philosophy of British education and get a first-hand experience of British culture through a two-week programme at top UK boarding schools. Eton College is one of the world's most renowned boarding schools in the UK. This summer, students can join a summer programme at Eton College to improve English proficiency and hone skills in leadership, creativity and resilience for future success. When: 4 – 7 July & 20 July – 3 August 2025 Where: Eton College UK, Windsor SL4 6DW, United Kingdom How much: S$10,600 (excluding flights) Summer Programme At Wycombe Abbey UK Wycombe Abbey UK specialises in unleashing the talents of each student by offering a diverse range of core academic courses and electives in arts, sports and science. With exceptional sports and arts facilities including 20 tennis courts, dance studios, 30 music practice rooms and more, Wycombe Abbey is the ideal location for a summer programme where students aged 12 to 17 can discover their passion and strengths. When: 2 – 16 July, 16 – 30 July, 30 July – 13 August 2025 Where: Wycombe Abbey, Wycombe Abbey Frances Dove Way, High Wycombe HP11 1PE, United Kingdom How much: S$9,800 (excluding flights) Summer Programme At Downe House For STEM enthusiasts, Downe House is the place to be. Designed for students aged 10 to 15, this summer course sparks students' interest in science, inspiring them to find creative solutions to real-world challenges through experiments and exciting excursions. Known for nurturing royal elites and renowned female leaders, Downe House continues its legacy of equipping students to advance to top universities, make a global impact and form lasting friendships. When: 6 – 20 July 2025 Where: Downe House, Downe House, Hermitage Rd, Cold Ash, Thatcham RG18 9JJ, United Kingdom How much: S$10,200 (excluding flights) Let BE Education handle every detail with end-to-end support Sending your child overseas doesn't have to be daunting! With over 19 years of experience in helping students in Asia study at the UK's most elite boarding schools, BE Education has earned the trust of hundreds of families who value top British education. When it comes to these summer courses, BE Education can help with: End-to-End Support: Flights, visas, and logistics will be expertly managed by BE's professional team. Exclusive Access: BE Education's partnership with these top UK boarding schools allows them to offer you exclusive access. Stress-Free Planning: BE's expert team will deliver a seamless and stress-free experience for your family. Click here to learn more about these exciting summer courses. Spaces are limited–we hear that spots for one of their summer courses have already sold out! If you're ready to take the next step, register your child today, so they can get an exclusive glimpse of the beauty of British education and step into a whole new world of experiences and possibilities! Enquire today to get a free consultation with one of BE Education's Premium Consultants to learn more about elite British education and which boarding school would be the best fit for your child. BE Education, [email protected], Tel: (+65) 8950 2617,
The Guardian
28-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Jennifer Gosse obituary
My beloved aunt, Jennifer Gosse, who has died aged 92, taught English at Downe House school in Berkshire for more than 30 years. She was an inspirational teacher, fondly remembered by generations of pupils until her retirement in 1991. She lived in Cold Ash, the village close to the school, and in later years shared a house with her friend and fellow teacher, Mary Bellhouse, who wrote about Chinese language and history. After Mary's death in 2017, Jennifer continued to live in their house, which adjoined the Hermitage woods, supported by her neighbours and friends, enjoying the birds and wildlife at every opportunity. Jennifer was born in London, into the distinguished Gosse family. She was the daughter of Philip Gosse, a naturalist and author of several books on piracy, and his second wife, Irene Harmsworth (nee Hawkshaw). Philip was the son of Sir Edmund Gosse, author of the memoir Father and Son, and the grandson of the Victorian naturalist Philip Henry Gosse. Jennifer's aunt was the painter and etcher Sylvia Gosse, and her great-aunt was Laura Epps, also a painter, who was married to Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, whose work can be seen at Tate Britain. Her parents moved to West Sussex, to a house situated below Chanctonbury Ring in the South Downs, where Jennifer spent her childhood, together with her older half-sister, Hazel, the daughter of her mother's first marriage, who had suffered from polio at the age of five. Jennifer's parents divorced when she was very young and she was brought up by her father and a nanny. She acquired a love for the countryside and all living creatures from an early age. Asked whether she liked reading, she replied that it was like breathing. From 1943 Jennifer attended Downe House as a pupil. She left the school in 1950, but, after studying at Newnham College, Cambridge, eventually returned as a teacher of English in 1960. She later served as head of English, and for a while as deputy headteacher. She took great delight in her pupils' achievements. She was warm-hearted and erudite, seeing the good in almost everyone she met. Perhaps the last book she read, with enormous enthusiasm, was the biography of Richard Adams, the author of Watership Down, which was set in the Berkshire countryside that she loved so much. She is survived by four half-nephews, John, Stephen, Tom and Richard, and me.
